Ohio State AD Ross Bjork comments on status of Alabama, Georgia nonconference games
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Ohio State faces a few standout non-conference opponents over the next several seasons. In 2027, Alabama travels to the Horseshoe for just the second regular-season meeting, and the sixth contest all-time, between the two programs before the Buckeyes head to Tuscaloosa in 2028. In 2030, they visit Georgia for the first part of a home-and-home series that shifts to Columbus in 2031. Those two schools have met just twice, but never in the regular season.
That said, either program can put a proverbial pen to their checkbooks to cancel those upcoming games. Considering the resources all three schools have, any cancellation fee would amount to pennies. It doesn’t sound as if the Buckeyes’ games against Alabama and Georgia are in any bit of jeopardy, though.
“I have not heard from my colleagues at those schools that they’re interested in not playing those games, even though they’re going to nine (SEC) games,” Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said, according to Cleveland.com. “I think they view those high-power matchups – if anything, right now you play them and you win, and then you’re in a great spot.”
The Buckeyes, of course, opened the 2025 season with a home win against another SEC team, Texas. The second part of that home-and-home affair is scheduled for Sept. 12 in Austin.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
